Author Archives: Mark Kersten

Unknown's avatar

About Mark Kersten

Mark Kersten is an Assistant Professor in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, and a Senior Consultant at the Wayamo Foundation in Berlin, Germany. Mark is the founder of the blog Justice in Conflict and author of the book, published by Oxford University Press, by the same name. He holds an MSc and PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and a BA (Hons) from the University of Guelph. Mark has previously been a Research Associate at the Refugee Law Project in Uganda, and as researcher at Justice Africa and Lawyers for Justice in Libya in London. He has taught courses on genocide studies, the politics of international law, transitional justice, diplomacy, and conflict and peace studies at the London School of Economics, SOAS, and University of Toronto. Mark’s research has appeared in numerous academic fora as well as in media publications such as The Globe and Mail, Al Jazeera, BBC, Foreign Policy, the CBC, Toronto Star, and The Washington Post. He has a passion for gardening, reading, hockey (on ice), date nights, late nights, Lego, and creating time for loved ones.

An Argentinean Judge Judy: Moreno-Ocampo’s Retirement Plans?

As many readers will know, this coming December the International Criminal Court’s Assembly of States Parties (ASP) will come together to elect a new Prosecutor. Posts here at JiC have considered the criteria of the next Prosecutor and some potential … Continue reading

Posted in Argentina, Humour, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Next ICC Prosecutor | 4 Comments

Peace, Justice and Libya – the Gaddafi who Threatens it All?

It is nothing short of stunning how little we hear about Gaddafi these days. Articles in papers, posts on blogs, discussions amongst friends – virtually everywhere, even in discussions about peace and justice in Libya, Gaddafi is no where to … Continue reading

Posted in Amnesty, Crimes against humanity, France, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Libya and the ICC, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3), United Kingdom, War crimes | 4 Comments

The Kwoyelo Trial: Sorting out this Amnesty Business

An LRA Commander on Trial. But Should He Be? Even before it started, the trial of former LRA commander Thomas Kwoyelo was controversial. His “day in court” was delayed for months; his application to the Government for amnesty was never … Continue reading

Posted in Amnesty, Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Kwoyelo Trial, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Peace Negotiations, Uganda | 2 Comments

Negotiating Peace in Libya: What Happens to Justice?

While diplomats from all interested parties may not be willing to describe it as such, the crisis in Libya has reached the negotiation phase. Foreign ministers crisscrossing around the world, dropping in on various national capitals, testing the waters by suggesting … Continue reading

Posted in African Union (AU), Amnesty, France, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Libya and the ICC, NATO, Peace Negotiations, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3), United Kingdom | 2 Comments

Transitional Justice: “Paradigm Shift or Hot Air?”

I recently attended the IASFM conference on forced migration outside of Kampala, at a picturesque resort perched above Lake Victoria (yes, there is irony there!). At the conference, numerous scholars presented pieces on “transitional justice” or “TJ”. Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Traditional Justice Mechanisms, Transitional Justice, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, Truth Commission | 2 Comments

International Justice Day: Some Thoughts on The Year Ahead for the ICC

Greetings from Gulu, northern Uganda and happy International Justice Day to readers of Justice in Conflict! Predicting which issues the Court will face in the next year may be a futile effort. Who, at this time last year, would have … Continue reading

Posted in Elections, Fatou Bensouda, Funding, Human Rights, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Ivory Coast / Côte d'Ivoire, Justice, Libya, Libya and the ICC, Middle East, Next ICC Prosecutor, Peace Negotiations, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3), UN Security Council | Leave a comment

Uganda’s Controversial First War Crimes Trial: Thomas Kwoyelo

On July 11, I had the opportunity to attend some of the beginning of the first trial of Uganda’s International Crimes Division of the High Court, in Gulu, Northern Uganda. On the stand is Thomas Kwoyelo, a former senior Lord’s Resistance … Continue reading

Posted in Amnesty, Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Kwoyelo Trial, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Southern Sudan, Sudan, Transitional Justice, Uganda, War crimes | 12 Comments

Guest-Post at Opinio Juris: Libya and the “Peace versus Justice” Debate

I have been honoured by the opportunity to write-up a guest-post over at the widely-read and respected international law blog, Opinio Juris, entitled “Trying to Get to the Bottom of the “Peace versus Justice” Debate in Libya” (click here to read … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Libya and the ICC, Peace Negotiations | Leave a comment

Buying Justice: The Supply, Demand and Cost of ICC Justice

Imagine the following scenario: Assume that the people of Libya and Syria are all represented by one individual each who is charged with requesting that the human rights violations and atrocities in their respective nations are investigated by the ICC. … Continue reading

Posted in Crimes against humanity, Funding, Human Rights, Ivory Coast / Côte d'Ivoire, Libya, Libya and the ICC, Sudan, Syria, Transitional Justice, UN Security Council, War crimes | Leave a comment

Why the ICC should Think Twice before Investigating Conflicts with Roots Before 2002

Many readers will know that I am spending three months conducting research on the effects of the International Criminal Court’s investigations and arrest warrants on the conflict between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). As previously … Continue reading

Posted in African Union (AU), Human Rights, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Peace Negotiations, Uganda | 2 Comments